Projector



Aprifi 1936- H. K. HULL 2,07,4ii5

PROJECTOR Filed Nov. 22, 1935 5 sheetksheex 1 Invenior H IWZJKHMZZ q ByI I ,fl llomey H. K. HULL April 14,1936.

PROJECTOR Filed Nov. 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 14, 1936. H K, HULL2,037,416

' PROJEQTOR' Filed Nov. 22, 1955 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor PatentedApr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' 1 Claim.

This invention relates to the broad class of games and toys and has moreparticular reference to a portable, knock-down basketball game of aminiature type adapted for indoor and parlor use, the preferredembodiment of the invention embodying a charted or marked playing fieldand appropriately coordinated mechanical features adapted to provide astructurally novel and ingenious arrangement.

10 It is admittedly old in this particular line of endeavor and the arttowhich the invention relates to provide miniature game boards and ballprojecting and tossing devices and means. Some of the prior art devicesuse playing cards or the like for systematically directing the play ofthe participants, and others use spinners and other directional means.

The present invention has to do with a similar type of game whichemploys a deck of cards 20 wherein the cards are variously marked andprinted with indicia to permit the participants to easily follow therules and. regulations for play. No novelty, however, is predicated uponthe deck of cards. Instead, the principal novelty resides in theconstruction of the game board and its coordinated mechanical featuressuch as the unique ball tossing or projecting device, the back stop, andwire baskets, and other complemental details.

It follows, therefore, that my primary aim is to generally improve uponknown prior art devices by providing a portable game device or structurewhose features of accommodation and adaptation transcend those ofsimilar games and r, are aptly fitted for the purposes intended, wherebyto provide an arrangement which is realistic in character, instructive,amusing, and susceptible of requiring skillful play on the part of theparticipants in order to attain winning results.

- 'In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a top plan view of the game device and its complementaryappurtenances or accessories.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, the section being takenapproximately on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1.

m Figure 3 is a cross sectional View taken transversely on the line 33of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end view showing one end of the box or baseforming a salient part of the assemblage.

55 Figure 5 is a perspective view of a detachable board.

and renewable back-stop or ball-rebounding Figure 6 is a perspectiveview of the playeractuated ball-projecting or tossing arm. Figure 7 is adetail elevational view of the min- "'5 iature basketball.

. Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, itwill be observed that the numeral 9 refers to that unit which may beconveniently referred to as the portable base. 10 This base is somewhatin the nature of a box including a playing board I0 having spacedparallel side walls ll of relatively small vertical height, andduplicate transverse end walls l2 of somewhat greater height or verticaldimensions. It will be noticed that the central portions of the endwalls l2 are elevated sufliciently to form stabilizing or backing meansfor'the back-stop. The back-stop is denoted by the numeral l3.- As shownin Figure 5, each back-stop comprises a rectangular panel, of wood orthe like, the same being of suitable area or dimensions and detachablymounted in retention cleats or keeper elements I 4 attached to the innerfaces of the end walls as shown in the drawings. The keepers M are sofashioned as to permit the back-stop panels to be easily inserted andremoved. Each back-stop is provided with a basket and this basket isformed from a single length of wire which is bent to form a loop or ringI5, the ends of the wire I 6 being suitably secured in place and theextremities l I clenched as shown in Figure 5 to securely fasten thebasket to the back-stop. The basket-equipped back-stops are obviouslysecured to the opposite ends of the base in longitudinal alinement asdepicted in Figure 1. The ball-tossing or projecting device is ingeniousand comprises a disk or turntable I8 which is located centrally of theplaying field and 40 pivotally attached in place as indicated at H1 inFigure 2. This permits the disk or turntable to be turned at any desiredangle in relation to the basket for self-styled use by the individualparticipant. A yieldable metal strip or arm 20 of suitable shape andform is pivotally attached at one end, as indicated at 2|, to theturntable. The intermediate portion of the arm is attached to theturntable through the instrumentality of an expansion spring 22. Thefree end portion of the arm'is fashioned as indicated at 23 to provide afinger-piece. It will be noted that intermediate its ends the arm 20 isprovided with a semi-spherical receptacle or cup 24 which is adapted toaccommodate the basketball 25. The

ball may be of rubber and of appropriate dimensions and weight.

To add to the indispensable feature of reality, it is obvious that theplaying board In must be charted or otherwise marked to represent theconventional playing field and the marginal foul lines of the field areindicated at 25 and the free throwing or tossing lanes or courts aredenoted by the numerals 21. These are obviously mere features ofembellishment such as add to the attractiveness and emotional appeal ofthe game.

The gist of the invention is in the provision of a portable baseincluding a baseboard having a marginal rim to form what may bedesignated as a confining box. This retains the ball within a limitedplaying area. Equal novelty and emphasis is attached to the rotaryturntable and ball-tossing or projecting device comprising the pivoted,spring-pressed arm with the ball-receiving and throwing cup. This makesit possible for the participants to place the pivoted, springpressed,finger-flipped arm in any desired angle or position with relation to thebaskets at the ends of the playing field. It is an ingenious feature inthe structure of this classification.

Additional novelty is predicated upon the detachable panels or backstopswith the simple economical wire members carried thereby and fashioned torepresent the ball receptive baskets, these being detachably held inplace through the instrumentality of the aforesaid keeper cleats.

In playing the game, it is generally played by two opposing participantsor players. I have found it satisfactory and convenient to provide a onehundred piece or card deck. All of the cards have different plays andindicia printed or diagrammatically indicated thereon and these areutilized according to the directions for playing the game so as toindicate the various plays drawn by the players according to chance.

The idea of the game is to try to get possession of the ball from thetip-ofl' and to keep passing it among the players of one side until ashot at the basket is secured or a foul ball made. It is obvious,however, that the rules and regulations may be varied and as beforestated, the novelty is not predicated upon the method of play or thedeck of cards. Instead, it is based on the construction of the box-likebase and ball tossing device and the back-stops, etc. The method ofassembling and using these features is evident and a more elaboratedescription is, therefore, believed to be unessential.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the inventionafter considering the description in connection with the drawings.Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

In interpreting the claim, I desire to have it understood that theexpression playing field is used broadly as the equivalent of the device9, that is, the entire box-like unit.

What is claimed is:

A projector of the character described comprising a rotatably mountedbase, an elongated arm, a hinged connection between one end of the armand the base adjacent the edge portion thereof, the free end portion ofthe arm being bent obliquely with respect to the remaining portion ofthe arm, a spring interposed between the base and the last mentionedportion of the arm so as to sustain the last mentioned portion of thearm in an inclined position with the obliquely disposed free end portionsubstantially horizontally disposed, and a projectile receptor securedto the inclined portion of the arm.

HAROLD K. HULL.

